The new development is giving family members hope that they may soon find out what happened to her.

Now that Houck has been named a suspect, family members hope their search is nearing an end.

The sheriff said Friday that he believes Rogers is dead.

The mother of five was last seen with Houck, on July 3.

Rogers’ family has been searching for answers since the mother of five disappeared in July.

Her car was found abandoned with a flat tire on Bluegrass Parkway.

Her keys, purse and cellphone were found inside.

Her family did not believe she would just leave without telling them.

Since she disappeared, family members have suspected that Houck was connected.

They've been searching rivers, highways and nearby counties for months.

Many of Rogers' relatives said they are holding on to little hope that she is alive, but the sheriff does not believe that is the case.

“I think it's safe to say that she is deceased and you can do that because people have certain ways that they do business, they have to have food, they have to have income, they have to have shelter. They have to have family. Crystal Rogers was extremely close with her family. She has had no contact with her family," Sheriff Ed Mattingly said.

“Since they named him a suspect, I feel like they're working now, which I always thought the Sheriff Department was doing a good job, but it makes me feel a lot better," Rogers’ father, Tommy Ballard said.

Rogers' grandfather and other family members sat in on Friday's press conference.

They were devastated by the developments in the case, though not surprised by the new details.